Christians have sometimes referred to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission as “GC2.” They are the most important words Jesus ever spoke and the transformative basis of living out a Gospel that cares for the sick, specifically for people living with HIV&AIDS and their families and friends.

Jesus’ version of the Great Commandment reads, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength … Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” Mark 12:30–31 (NIV84). His statement proclaims that we cannot live truly fulfilled lives until we discover and develop essential relationships that transform who we are and define everything we do.

Note that “we’re all in” when we love God and others as Jesus commands: our “heart”– intellect, emotion and will; our “soul”– the internal-eternal us; our “mind”– the intentional, creative, imaginative us; and our strength – the physical, actional us. No part of our being or behaving should be unloving. What’s more, because of the construction of Jesus’ commandment and connection of his words, “heart, soul, mind, and strength” also apply to our “neighbor” and “ourselves.” NO ONE should be unloved. This is the integrity of the Gospel.

We want the number of people living with HIV&AIDS and their families and friends who feel unloved by Christians and the Church to “Get to Zero!” With the Lord’s help, we can do that by praying the Great Commandment: “Lord. Help me love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and love my HIV&AIDS neighbor and his/her family and friends as myself.”

Take a few moments in the Spirit’s presence, and list three next steps you will take to love a person living with HIV&AIDS and his/her family and friends so that NO ONE IS UNLOVED.

Thanks for Rating!

Comments

Posted by Lori Rosenbauer 1/8/2013 11:08:00 AM

Powerful thoughts. Our family is in process of preparing to go full time to serve kids affected by HIV

Add a Comment

Name:

Email:

Comments:

Your comment has been submitted for approval. It will show up very shortly.